The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and the Canada Council for the Arts has announced that the Royal Conservatory is a recipient of the 2010 Governor General’s Medals in Architecture recognizing outstanding design in recently built projects by Canadian architects.

Jury Comments

"When you consider all the architectural, landscape and urban forces at work immediate to this site it is remarkable how deftly KPMB has managed the forms, the places within, the experience of moving through this assembly of buildings, the dialogue between old and new materials and the presentation of the project from so many fronts. This is a lovely and lively project."

"The links between the historical building and the new one are very well composed. The choice of a rigorous and transparent construction for the new addition actually sets off very nicely the restoration of the old Victorian looking building. The presence of the Conservatory on the university campus is very inspiring, and the way it complements the “philosophers’ walk” is remarkable."

“The Canadian architects we are honouring have the gift of designing not only buildings, places and monuments, but living spaces that give soul to our cities, villages and communities. Faced with the growing standardization of the urban landscape, we can’t help but recognize their originality, their daring, their vision and their sensibility,” said Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada.

“The 2010 winners of the Governor General’s medals demonstrate the positive impact that architecture can have on the quality of our communities by revitalizing heritage buildings and creating new structures that mirror their surroundings,” said Joseph L. Rotman, Chair of the Canada Council. “These projects have demonstrated how architecture is art which is integrated in a unique way into society and how buildings can be more than wood and bricks, they can be works of artistic invention to be studied and enjoyed.”

“The projects recognized this year are unique in their ability to blend the conceptual and the technical to bring together truly inspired contemporary Canadian architecture,” said RAIC President Randy Dhar, FRAIC. “The award-winning projects demonstrate design excellence by Canadian architects in the residential, institutional, cultural, industrial and other building types. Canada’s architects do shine throughout the country and around the globe.”

The Governor General’s Medals in Architecture will be presented at a later date. Descriptions, biographies and downloadable images of the architectural firms and their winning buildings are available at http://www.raic.org and http://www.canadacouncil.ca.

The Governor General’s Medals in Architecture, created by the RAIC, contribute to the development of the discipline and practice of architecture, and increase public awareness of architecture as a vital cultural force in Canadian society. These awards are administered jointly with the Canada Council for the Arts, which is responsible for the adjudication process and contributes to the publication highlighting the medal winners."